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Summary

Description

1835. Important flax and jute spinning and weaving mill complex in exceptional setting with narrow cobbled streets and separately listed mill owner's house. 2-storey and attic, 11-bay by 3-bay (extended to E by 5 bays between 1851 and 1858), L-plan, iron-framed flax mill with 2-bay by 5-bay wing at Donald's Lane and square-section chimney stalk rising beyond eaves at SW corner; 2-storey and attic, 4-bay by 3-bay, rectangular-plan range to W at Pitalpin Street and Donald's Lane; and lower rectangular-plan, piend-roofed store at SW abutting rear of Pitalpin House. Squared and coursed rubble with ashlar quoins (some dressed) and quoin strips, some raised margins. Ashlar skews and flat-top finials. Most windows and some doors blocked.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION:

E MILL RANGE: N wall carried at ground floor on steel beam and colonnade of flanged cast iron columns, 1902-3. Fire barrier walls divide W bays, some formerly over boilers. W gablehead with 2 windows below oculus and fine basket-arched opening to E elevation of projecting W wing, similarly arched opening and 1st floor loading door to W at Pitalpin Street.

Fireproof interior: cast iron columns and beams carry brick arches. Unusually, no wrought iron ties visible (except some later bolted on to cast iron structure). Eyelets at ends of 1835, but not 1850s, beams. Wooden collar-beam roof, plastered for fire resistance. Bolts in floor allowed fixing of extra columns for additional storeys, never added. Stone spiral stair at W and ornate cast iron spiral stair at E.

Engine house remodelled 1902 to allow for more powerful steam engine; metal-plated wooden floors on steel beams. Heavy cast steel base of engine survives.

Statement of Special Interest

The Pitalpin Works is a rare survivor of the once numerous mill buildings which contributed significantly to Dundee's industrial heritage. The remaining buildings are critically sited around the junction of Pitalpin Street and Donald's Lane, with unusually narrow cobbled streets which form an integral part of the complex. The flax mill was built for James Donald who lived at Pitalpin House which overlooks the south elevation of the main mill building. The fine boundary wall which divides the extensive garden of the house from the works has a gateway with imposing pyramidally-coped gatepiers allowing easy access from one side to the other. Pitalpin subsequently moved into the ownership of A A Milne, Spalding and Valentine, and finally of William Halley and Sons. Throughout this time, manufacture changed from flax to jute and then rayon, and the works finally closed in 1988. A variety of buildings which constituted necessary elements of the mill complex have been demolished. These include single storey weaving sheds, offices and mechanics shop. The original listing, dating from 1987, mentions "the hackling room with 2 hackling holes -the only remaining examples in Dundee".

List description revised 2008.

References

Bibliography

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